Spilve airport Infrastructure

Located in Riga, Pardaugava, Spilve meadows near Ilguciems.

Spilve is famous in the history of military heritage for the large-scale battle of Spilve in the 18th century. and Spilve Airport. Beginning in the 20th century, it was used to test aircraft, but in World War I it became a witness to the history of Latvian aviation.

In World War I, Spilve meadows were used for the needs of the Russian Air Force in the fight against the German Army. With the establishment of Latvia, the airfield became the most important base of the national air force and a place for pilot training. The previous names of the airport were "Spilve Airport" or "Riga Airport", later "Riga Central Airport". It was the main airport in Latvia until the opening of Riga Airport in 1975.

It is possible that Spilve Airport near Riga and the dream of reaching for the stars have contributed to the impressive achievements of many Latvian pilots. Perhaps, however, the beginning of Latvian aviation is much older and can be found in Priekule, where a Latvian blacksmith Zviedris made a flight from the church tower with a homemade device.

Today, Spilve Airport is still open. You can see the airport building built in 1954, which embodies the style of Soviet classicism or "Stalin's Empire".

Sources:

Irbītis, K. Latvian Aviation and Its Pioneers. Riga: Science, 2004.

Brūvelis, E. History of Latvian Aviation: 1919-1940. Riga: Science, 2003.

Official website of the State Agency "Civil Aviation Agency". Available: https://www.caa.gov.lv/lv/latvijas-aviacijas-vesture-isuma [accessed 22.02.2021].